Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has chemotherapeutic potential as a regulator of an extrinsic apoptotic ligand, but its effect as a drug is limited by innate and acquired resistance. Recent findings suggest that an intermediate drug tolerance could mediate acquired resistance, which has made the main obstacle for limited utility of TRAIL as an anti-cancer therapeutics. We propose miRNA-dependent epigenetic modification drives the drug tolerant state in TRAIL-induced drug tolerant (TDT). Transcriptomic analysis revealed miR-29 target gene activation in TDT cells, showing oncogenic signature in lung cancer. Also, the restored TRAIL-sensitivity was associated with miR-29ac and 140-5p expressions, which is known as tumor suppressor by suppressing oncogenic protein RSK2 (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase), further confirmed in patient samples. Moreover, we extended this finding into 119 lung cancer cell lines from public data set, suggesting a significant correlation between TRAIL-sensitivity and RSK2 mRNA expression. Finally, we found that increased RSK2 mRNA is responsible for NF-κB activation, which we previously showed as a key determinant in both innate and acquired TRAIL-resistance. Our findings support further investigation of miR-29ac and -140-5p inhibition to maintain TRAIL-sensitivity and improve the durability of response to TRAIL in lung cancer.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been utilized to calculate hemodynamic parameters in anterior communicating artery aneurysm (AComA), which is located at a junction between left and right A1 and A2 segments. However, complete or half circle of Willis (CoW) models are used indiscriminately. This study aims to suggest recommendations for determining suitable CoW model. Five patient-specific CoW models with AComA were used, and each model was divided into complete, left-half, and right-half models. After validating the CFD using a flow experiment, the hemodynamic parameters and flow patterns in five AComAs were compared. In four out of five cases, inflow from one A1 side had a dominant influence on the AComA, while both left and right A1 sides affected the AComA in the remaining case. Also, the average difference in time-averaged wall shear stress between the complete and half models for four cases was 4.6%, but it was 62% in the other case. The differences in the vascular resistances of left and right A1 and A2 segments greatly influenced the flow patterns in the AComA. These results may help to enhance clinicians' understanding of blood flow in the brain, leading to improvements in diagnosis and treatment of cerebral aneurysms.
Intracranial Aneurysm , Humans , Circle of Willis , Hemodynamics/physiology , Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology , Brain
Using data from Korean-American residents (N = 343) in subsidized senior housing in the Los Angeles area, we examined the effect of peer bullying on mental health. About 18% of the sample had been a target of bullying, and over 31% had witnessed someone being bullied. Being a target of bullying was a significant predictor for both depressive symptoms and anxiety, whereas witnessing other residents being bullied was a significant predictor for anxiety only. Findings shed light on the adverse mental health impacts of peer bullying among ethnic minority older residents in senior housing.
INTRODUCTION: Residential food environments are one of the important determinants of cardiovascular health. However, past literature has been limited by short-term follow-ups, time-invariant environmental measurements at baseline, and/or not investigating both healthy and unhealthy aspects of the food environment. This study examines the effects of time-varying healthy and unhealthy food environments on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) over 10 years, extracting data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016; N=10,413). METHODS: Cox proportional hazards modeling was performed with inverse probability weighting to assess the association between time-varying food environmental measures (i.e., densities of grocery stores, supercenters/club stores, full-service restaurants, and fast-food restaurants) and incident CVD over 10 years. Education level and race/ethnicity were tested as potential moderators. Analyses were conducted in 2022-2023. RESULTS: Race/ethnicity had a significant interaction effect with supercenters/club stores and indicated that a 1-standard-deviation increase in the density of supercenters/club stores was associated with a 6%-8% lower risk of incident CVD in non-Hispanic Black (HR=0.78, 95% CI=0.70-0.87) and Hispanic older adults (HR=0.69, 95% CI=0.50-0.96), but not non-Hispanic White older adults. Additionally, education had a significant interaction effect with full-service restaurants, indicating that a 1-standard-deviation increase in the density of full-service restaurants was associated with a 10% lower risk of incident CVD in individuals with 13+ years of schooling, but not those with 0-12 years of schooling. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that public policymakers should be aware of the benefits and nuances of varying food environment components as they can contribute to positive or negative cardiovascular health.
The worldwide appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has generated significant concern and posed a considerable challenge to global health. Phosphorylation is a common post-translational modification that affects many vital cellular functions and is closely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Precise identification of phosphorylation sites could provide more in-depth insight into the processes underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and help alleviate the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Currently, available computational tools for predicting these sites lack accuracy and effectiveness. In this study, we designed an innovative meta-learning model, Meta-Learning for Serine/Threonine Phosphorylation (MeL-STPhos), to precisely identify protein phosphorylation sites. We initially performed a comprehensive assessment of 29 unique sequence-derived features, establishing prediction models for each using 14 renowned machine learning methods, ranging from traditional classifiers to advanced deep learning algorithms. We then selected the most effective model for each feature by integrating the predicted values. Rigorous feature selection strategies were employed to identify the optimal base models and classifier(s) for each cell-specific dataset. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report two cell-specific models and a generic model for phosphorylation site prediction by utilizing an extensive range of sequence-derived features and machine learning algorithms. Extensive cross-validation and independent testing revealed that MeL-STPhos surpasses existing state-of-the-art tools for phosphorylation site prediction. We also developed a publicly accessible platform at https://balalab-skku.org/MeL-STPhos. We believe that MeL-STPhos will serve as a valuable tool for accelerating the discovery of serine/threonine phosphorylation sites and elucidating their role in post-translational regulation.
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Phosphorylation , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Serine/metabolism , Threonine/metabolism
This paper proposes a bidirectional boost-buck converter employing a six-pack SiC intelligent power module using droop control in DC nano-grids. The topology is constructed as a cascaded structure of an interleaved boost converter and buck converter. A six-pack SiC intelligent power module (IPM), which is suitable for the proposed cascaded structure, is adopted for high efficiency and compactness. A hybrid control scheme, in which holding a particular switch always results in a turn-off or turn-on state according to the boost mode and the buck mode, is employed to reduce the switching losses. By applying the hybrid control scheme, the number of switching operations of the switches can be minimized. Since switchover of the current controller is not required, smooth transition is enabled not only from the buck mode to the boost mode but also vice versa. As a parallel control, a secondary control is employed with DC droop control, which has a trade-off relationship between voltage sag and current sharing. It is possible to enhance the accuracy of current sharing while effectively regulating the DC link voltage without voltage sag. This is verified experimentally using two modules as laboratory prototypes, of which the power rating is 20 kW each.
(1) Background: The government of South Korea has established a nationwide web- and mobile-based emergency teleconsultation network by designating urban and rural hospitals. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of the tele-emergency system in South Korea. (2) Methods: Tele-emergency consultation cases from May 2015 to December 2018 were analyzed in the present study. The definition of a tele-emergency in the present study is an emergency consultation between doctors in rural and urban hospitals via a web- and mobile-based remote emergency consultation system (RECS). Consultations through an RECS are grouped into three categories: medical procedure or treatment guidance, image interpretation, and transportation requests. The present study analyzed the characteristics of the tele-emergency system and the reduction in unnecessary transportation (RUT). (3) Results: A total of 2604 cases were analyzed in the present study from 2985 tele-emergency consultation cases. A total of 381 cases were excluded for missing data. Consultations for image interpretation were the most common in trauma cases (71.3%), while transfer requests were the most common in non-trauma cases (50.3%). Trauma patients were more frequently admitted to rural hospitals or discharged and followed up with at rural hospitals (20.3% vs. 40.5%) after consultations. In terms of disease severity, non-severe cases were statistically higher in trauma cases (80.6% vs. 59.4%; p < 0.001). The RUT was statistically highly associated with trauma cases (60.8% vs. 42.8%; p < 0.001). In an analysis that categorized cases by region, a statistically higher proportion of transportation was used in island regions (69.9% vs. 49.5%; p < 0.003). More RUT was associated with non-island regions (30.1% vs. 50.5%; p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The tele-emergency system had a great role in reducing unnecessary patient transportation in non-severe trauma cases and non-island rural area emergency cases. Further research is needed for a cost/benefit analysis and clinical outcomes.
BACKGROUND: A growing body of research has focused on the relationships of policies and other macro factors and child welfare outcomes. However, to date, few studies have examined state child welfare policies and reunification, despite reunification being the priority case goal among children in foster care. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between state child welfare policies and other macro factors and reunification, while controlling for child factors. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data came from the 2016-2019 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS), which contains case-level information on all children in foster care during each fiscal year. METHODS: We conducted a series of multi-level survival analyses to observe the fixed effects of state-level factors and child-level factors on time to reunification among children who entered foster care in 2016. RESULTS: In the unadjusted model, children in states with Title IV-E stipend programs for caseworkers had higher hazards of reunification (HR = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.44) as did children in states with statewide in-home post-reunification services (HR = 1.63, 95 % CI = 1.16-2.28). Children in states that required a master's degree for caseworkers had lower hazards of reunification (HR = 0.72, 95 % CI = 0.59-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study highlight the importance of considering state policies and their impact on reunification. Implications for policy, practice, and research are explored.
Child Welfare , Foster Home Care , Humans , Child , Survival Analysis , Policy , Motivation
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poses a significant global threat to human lives. To advance the development of innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches, it is essential to examine the hidden features of HCC, particularly its 3D genome architecture, which is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the 3D genome organization of four HCC cell lines-Hep3B, Huh1, Huh7, and SNU449-using in situ Hi-C and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing. Our findings revealed that HCC cell lines had more long-range interactions, both intra-and interchromosomal, compared to human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). Unexpectedly, HCC cell lines displayed cell line-specific compartmental modifications at the megabase (Mb) scale, which could potentially be leveraged in determining HCC subtypes. At the sub-Mb scale, we observed decreases in intra-TAD (topologically associated domain) interactions and chromatin loops in HCC cell lines compared to HMECs. Lastly, we discovered a correlation between gene expression and the 3D chromatin architecture of SLC8A1, which encodes a sodium-calcium antiporter whose modulation is known to induce apoptosis by comparison between HCC cell lines and HMECs. Our findings suggest that HCC cell lines have a distinct 3D genome organization that is different from those of normal and other cancer cells based on the analysis of compartments, TADs, and chromatin loops. Overall, we take this as evidence that genome organization plays a crucial role in cancer phenotype determination. Further exploration of epigenetics in HCC will help us to better understand specific gene regulation mechanisms and uncover novel targets for cancer treatment.
BACKGROUND: Literature has focused on neighborhood environments and their possible impacts on obesity and obesity-related behaviors. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the effect of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) on childhood obesity. PURPOSE: Investigate the longitudinal association between nSES and obesity and obesity-related unhealthy behaviors. METHODS: We obtained data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,072). The main exposure was nSES (measured using an index of five variables representing wealth, income, education, and occupation from the Decennial Census 2000) at ages 3, 5, and 9. The outcome was children's body mass index z-score (BMIz) at ages 5, 9, and 15. Three measures of obesity-related behaviors (i.e., child- or caregiver-reported soda/snack food intake, fast-food intake, and sedentary behaviors) at ages 5, 9, and 15 were included as mediators and outcomes. Cross-lagged path analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Higher nSES at a previous wave was associated with consuming less soda/snack foods (ßs = -0.15 to -0.11 [varying by ages], p < .05) and fast-food intake (ßs = -0.21 to -0.14 [varying by ages], p < .01), and less frequent sedentary behaviors (ßs = -0.14 to -0.06 [varying by ages], p < .01), but not with BMIz (ßs = -0.08 to 0.05 [varying by ages], p > .05). Unhealthy behaviors did not mediate the nSES-BMIz association at alpha .05. CONCLUSION: Health policies need to target low-socioeconomic neighborhoods to shape healthy lifestyles in children. To develop effective interventions, future research needs to examine comprehensive potential mediators like obesity-related parenting skills, home environments, and built and social environments on the risk of childhood obesity and obesity-related behaviors.
Neighborhood environments where children live and grow up have been shown to impact obesity and obesity-related behaviors. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the effect of neighborhood socioeconomic status on childhood obesity risk. We investigated the longitudinal association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and obesity and obesity-related unhealthy behaviors from early childhood to adolescence. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we conducted a statistical analysis to examine a mechanism by which neighborhood socioeconomic status at ages 3, 5, and 9 impacts childhood obesity and obesity-related unhealthy behaviors (i.e., soda/snack food intake, fast-food intake, and sedentary behaviors) at ages 5, 9, and 15. We observed that living in higher socioeconomic neighborhoods was associated with consuming less soda/snack foods and fast-food intake and engaging in sedentary behaviors less frequently. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was not significantly associated with childhood obesity. Our results indicate that community health policies targeting low socioeconomic neighborhoods are warranted to shape children's healthy lifestyle.
Pediatric Obesity , Child , Humans , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Child Health , Socioeconomic Factors , Social Class , Body Mass Index , Residence Characteristics
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of monitoring health disparities by multiple socioeconomic categories, there have been no recent updates on the prevalence of general health indicators by socioeconomic categories. The present study aims to update the prevalence estimates of health indicators by education and income categories across three age groups (children, young and middle-aged adults, and older adults) in the late 2010s by using four nationally representative data sources. We also examine socioeconomic differences in health by race/ethnicity subgroups. METHODS: Data were obtained from four nationally representative data sources from the U.S.: The National Health Interview Survey (2015-2018); the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES (2017-2020); the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2016-2020); and the Health & Retirement Study (2016). Respondent-rated health and obesity were selected as the health indicators of interest. Socioeconomic factors included percentages of the federal poverty level and years of educational attainment. We conducted logistic regression analyses to calculate adjusted prevalence rates of respondent-rated (or measured, in the case of obesity in NHANES) poor health and obesity by income and education categories after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The complex sampling designs were accounted for in all analyses. RESULTS: Prevalence rates across racial/ethnic groups and age groups demonstrated clear and consistent socioeconomic gradients in respondent-rated poor health, with the highest rates among those in the lowest income and education categories, and decreased rates as income and education levels increased. On the other hand, there were less evident socioeconomic differences in obesity rates across all data sources, racial/ethnic groups, and age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed earlier, persistent evidence indicating socioeconomic disparities in respondent-rated poor health across all age and race/ethnicity groups by using four nationally representative datasets. In comparison to a decade earlier, socioeconomic disparities in poor health appeared to shrink while they emerged or increased for obesity. The results suggest an urgent need for action to alleviate pervasive health disparities by socioeconomic status. Further research is needed to investigate potentially modifiable factors underlying socioeconomic disparities in health, which may help design targeted health promotion programs.
BACKGROUND: This systematic review summarized published literature on county-level predictors of drug overdose mortality in the United States (US). METHODS: Peer-reviewed studies and doctoral dissertations published in English between 1990 and July 19, 2022 were identified from PubMed, Web of Science, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EconLit. Eligible studies examined at least one county-level predictor of drug overdose mortality in US counties. Two reviewers independently completed screening, quality assessment (with an adapted National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool), and data extraction. Results were qualitatively summarized and grouped by predictor categories. RESULTS: Of 56 studies included, 42.9% were subnational, and 53.6% were limited to opioid overdose. In multiple studies, measures related to opioid prescribing, illness/disability, economic distress, mining employment, incarceration, family distress, and single-parent families were positively associated with drug overdose mortality outcomes, while measures related to cannabis dispensaries, substance use treatment, social capital, and family households were negatively associated with drug overdose mortality outcomes. Both positive and negative associations were documented for smoking, uninsurance, healthcare professional shortage status, physicians per capita, unemployment, income, poverty, educational attainment, racial composition, and rurality. Findings within studies also differed by subpopulation (by race/ethnicity, gender, age, or rurality) and the type of drugs involved in overdose. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review provide relatively mixed evidence regarding many county-level predictors of overdose mortality, several of which also vary between subpopulations, supporting the importance of additional research to elucidate pathways through which the county context may shape risk of fatal overdose.
Drug Overdose , Substance-Related Disorders , Humans , United States , Analgesics, Opioid , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Ethnicity
Although several studies have examined child and family factors associated with substantiation, less research has explored the role of state child maltreatment policies in substantiating cases of alleged maltreatment. In parallel, there is growing pressure to reduce racial/ethnic disproportionality and disparities across the span of a child welfare case. We examined the relationship between state child maltreatment policies and substantiation, with child race/ethnicity as a moderator of this relationship. Data came from the 2019 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and the State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policy Database. Using a series of multi-level binary logistic models, we calculated the odds of substantiation based on child characteristics (e.g., child age, number of types of alleged maltreatment) and state policies (e.g., state definitions of maltreatment that include exposure to domestic violence, harsh punishment). Approximately 17% of the variance in substantiation occurs between states. Although we did not find a direct effect of state policy on substantiation, there were significant interaction terms, in that inclusion of exposure to domestic violence, harsh punishment, or educational neglect in state policy was more strongly associated with substantiation for children of color than white children. Implications for policy and research are explored.
Child Abuse , Domestic Violence , Child , Humans , Child Welfare , Ethnicity , Policy
Hyperglycemia has various adverse health effects, some of which are due to chronic oxidative and inflammatory impairment of bone marrow (BM), hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Astaxanthin (ASTX) has been shown to ameliorate hyperglycemia-associated systemic complications and acute mortality, and this effect is partially associated with restoration of normal hematopoiesis. Here, the effects of ASTX on diabetes-induced complications in BM and BM stem cells were investigated, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were elucidated. Ten-week-old C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 150 mg/kg) in combination with oral gavage of ASTX (12.5 mg/kg) for 30 or 60 consecutive days. Supplemental ASTX ameliorated acute mortality and restored the STZ-impaired bone mass accrual and BM microenvironment in STZ-injected mice. Oral gavage of ASTX suppressed osteoclast formation in the BM of STZ-injected mice. Specifically, supplementation with ASTX inhibited oxidative stress and senescence induction of BM HSCs and MSCs and ameliorated hematopoietic disorders in STZ-injected mice. These effects of ASTX were associated with BM restoration of angiopoietin 1, stromal cell-derived factor 1, ß-catenin, and Nrf2. Long-term ASTX gavage also recovered the STZ-induced dysfunction in migration, colony formation, and mineralization of BM-derived stromal cells. Further, a direct addition of ASTX exhibited direct and dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclastic activation without cytotoxic effects. Collectively, these results indicate that ASTX protects against diabetes-induced damage in the BM microenvironment in BM, HSCs, and MSCs and restores normal hematopoiesis and bone accrual in STZ-injected mice.
We aimed at examining whether county-level economic changes were associated with changes in county-level drug mortality rates since the Great Recession and whether the association is equally distributed across major sociodemographic subgroups. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (2004-2019), combined with census data, we conducted fixed effects analyses by including county-level economic changes as primary exposures and county-level drug-related mortality rates (per 100,000 people) from 2004-2007 (i.e., prior to the recession) to 2008-2011, 2012-2015, and 2016-2019 as an outcome variable based on 1833 counties. Our findings showed that drug mortality rates increased from 13.9 (2004-2007) to 16.0 (2008-2011), 18.0 (2012-2015), and 23.0 (2016-2019). Counties experiencing smaller median household income growth during and/or after the recession were associated with greater increase in drug mortality than counties experiencing larger median household income growth among the total population and all sociodemographic subgroups. Counties experiencing larger increases in unemployment rates and percentage of vacant housing units were associated with greater increase in drug mortality than counties experiencing smaller or no increase in unemployment rates and percentage of vacant housing units among certain sociodemographic subgroups. Findings suggest the importance of local economic contexts in understanding drug mortality risk since the recession. Drug overdose prevention polices need to be formulated by taking local economic changes following a major recession into consideration.
Drug Overdose , Unemployment , United States/epidemiology , Humans , Income , Economic Recession , Mortality
Background This study aims to examine the effect of time-variant perceived neighborhood social cohesion, perceived neighborhood physical disorder, and local crime on cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence from 2006 through 2016. Methods and Results We obtained data from the Health & Retirement Study. Respondents aged ≥50 years and with no recorded history of CVD until 2006 (N=8826) were included and followed for 10 years. Cox proportional hazards models were estimated with CVD incidence as an outcome variable and time-variant social environment factors (perceived neighborhood social cohesion, perceived neighborhood physical disorder, and local crime) as exposures, after controlling for sociodemographic factors and CVD-related risk/protective factors. Our results showed that perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with CVD among Black respondents, but not Hispanic and White respondents. Perceived neighborhood physical disorder and local crime rates were not associated with CVD incidence across all racial and ethnic groups. Conclusions The results demonstrate that perceptions of favorable social environments need to be considered to reduce CVD risk among Black adults. Further research is needed to identify different pathways through which living in favorable social environments benefits cardiovascular health by racial and ethnic groups.
Cardiovascular Diseases , Social Determinants of Health , Adult , Humans , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Ethnicity , Racial Groups , Residence Characteristics , Social Environment , United States/epidemiology
Despite several dimensions of area socioeconomic status (SES), past literature has been dominated by the use of area socioeconomic position. We examined the longitudinal effect of three area SES measures (i.e., socioeconomic position, inequality, and segregation) on obesity. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families & Child Wellbeing Study (N = 1493), we estimated a linear mixed model to examine the effect of three time-varying area SES measures on time-varying measures of objectively measured body mass index z-score (BMIz) from ages 5 years to 15 years. Findings showed that BMIz increased steadily over time (B = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.03). A significant interaction between time and area socioeconomic position indicates that children in areas with higher socioeconomic position had a smaller increase in BMIz than those in low socioeconomic areas (B = - 0.02, 95% CI = - 0.02, - 0.01). A non-linear relationship of area income inequality with BMIz such that BMIz was higher as area income inequality was greater, but the effect diminishes in magnitude with a higher level of area income inequality (linear term: B = 0.07; quadratic term: B = - 0.03). Area income segregation was associated with greater BMIz (B = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.12). No time interaction effect was found for area income inequality and segregation. Results highlight a need for community health policy efforts and evidence-based interventions to address childhood obesity issues in low-SES areas.
Pediatric Obesity , Social Segregation , Child , Humans , Child, Preschool , Longitudinal Studies , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Social Class , Health Policy
Despite the adverse effects of substance use on health among individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease (CVD), little is known about trends and correlates for substance use among individuals with CVD. We examined trends of use in tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis among US adults with heart disease. Using nationally representative data from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 7339), we conducted survey-adjusted logistic regression analyses to test the significance of trends in substance use while controlling for sociodemographic factors and related correlates. Results showed that the prevalence of cannabis use among adults with a heart condition significantly increased. Notably, the prevalence of cannabis use increased by 91% among non-Hispanic Whites, while the increasing trends were not present among other racial/ethnic groups. Our results also showed that increase in cannabis use was associated with easier access, lower disapproval, and risk perceptions of cannabis. Special attention is needed to raise awareness of the risk associated with cannabis use among individuals with CVD and the implementation of an early screening and treatment strategy among those with CVD.
Cardiovascular Diseases , Substance-Related Disorders , Adult , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Ethnicity , Humans , Prevalence , Racial Groups , Sociodemographic Factors , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , United States/epidemiology
Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a major public health issue linked to negative health outcomes. Yet, few recent studies drawing on national data have examined the association between ACEs and binge drinking. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between ACEs and binge drinking among adults in the United States and whether this association is dependent on sex. Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. An analytic sample of 41,322 adults aged 18-64 years (50.7% male) from 17 states was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable was binge drinking, and the main explanatory variable was ACEs. Results: Of the 41,322 respondents, 21.3% engaged in binge drinking. About 30% of the respondents had no ACEs and 23.9% had four or more ACEs. In the multivariable logistic regression, we observed that sex moderated the association between ACEs and binge drinking. Odds were 1.36 times higher for females who experienced two ACEs (aOR = 1.36 p < .05, 95% CI = 1.04-1.77) and 1.58 times higher for females who experienced three ACEs (aOR = 1.58 p < .01, 95% CI = 1.17-2.12) to engage in binge drinking. Other factors associated with binge drinking include younger age, non-Hispanic White, higher income level, higher education, not being married, being overweight, and history of cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing sex-appropriate screening and intervention strategies to support individuals exposed to ACEs and potentially mitigate negative health outcomes later in life.
Adverse Childhood Experiences , Binge Drinking , Adult , Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System , Binge Drinking/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Overweight , United States/epidemiology
Recently, ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) have gained extensive attention as possible candidates for emerging memory and synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing. However, the working principles of FTJs remain controversial despite the importance of understanding them. In this study, we demonstrate a comprehensive and accurate analysis of the working principles of a metal-ferroelectric-dielectric-semiconductor stacked FTJ using low-frequency noise (LFN) spectroscopy. In contrast to resistive random access memory, the 1/f noise of the FTJ in the low-resistance state (LRS) is approximately two orders of magnitude larger than that in the high-resistance state (HRS), indicating that the conduction mechanism in each state differs significantly. Furthermore, the factors determining the conduction of the FTJ in each state are revealed through a systematic investigation under various conditions, such as varying the electrical bias, temperature, and bias stress. In addition, we propose an efficient method to decrease the LFN of the FTJ in both the LRS and HRS using high-pressure forming gas annealing.
